Chapter 24
Anna
9:02 p.m.
Dark circles were etched under Braden’s eyes, just like the rest of us. Exhaustion was taking its toll, causing the smallest things to build to a breaking point. Only a little over an hour before, Boston and I were on the verge of an argument that could have sent us on our separate ways. And temporarily, it did—him feigning a nap; me escaping to my room as he pretended to sleep.
I never thought not to question his conversation with Dr. Patron. I was aware Boston had gone to the police station, but what had come out of it was suddenly none of my business. It hurt and had me lashing out. Boston didn’t take well to me pulling emotionally away and begged me to “stay away from him.” The warning against Dr. Patron was enough to have us both pausing. The argument came to a stop when he apologized and blamed his behavior on not finding Lucy. Truth was, I didn’t blame him for not telling me what happened between him and the doctor. It was personal. I understood that. But it wasn’t just information on the suspect I was hoping he would include me in on. My concern came from the fear that Dr. Patron had clued Boston in on our meeting at the running path tonight. I was having my own insecurities about this plan to dig deeper into his. A part of me wanted to see what Dr. Patron was capable of, while the rational side thought it best to keep my real secrets out of this.
“Detective, when do you think you’ll find an address?”
Boston’s voice sounded defeated as he lowered back to the sofa. Glancing at the clock again, I felt myself break into a sweat.
9:07 p.m.
“Hopefully soon. We’re doing everything we can. I asked Dr. Patron, but he wasn’t sure where the suspect lived either.”
“How does he not know? He, more than anyone, has insight into this guy’s mind.” I paused, biting my tongue as I grew quiet. Maybe he did know. Maybe he didn’t. Not everyone liked to talk about the darker side of their life, and this man was a murderer. It could have been the reason he withheld his address.
“I asked him the same thing,” Boston said, resting his forearms just above his knees. His head lowered as he looked toward the floor. “I don’t understand any of it. He’s a good doctor. Fucking smart,” he said, glancing over to me. “Even if this bastard didn’t fully confess, Dr. Patron would have put it together within the first hour. He would have known. There’s no doubt in my mind. Fuck…it’s just that…through all our sessions, he has this way of twisting your mind to get you to speak. I’ve gone in there almost repeatedly thinking, I’ll just say I’m fine. I’ll get in and get right out. Sometimes, I hate going. Every time, every single time, I end up spilling my guts. And not intentionally. It’s his words. The way he uses them. The man is genius at manipulating a confession out of you. I don’t get it.”
Silence took over as Braden made a path from one side of the living room to the other. He was obviously still in work mode. He paced. He paused. He paced some more. When my phone alerted, everyone stopped, looking toward the kitchen.
“Maybe it’s work,” I lied. “We’ve been putting together a special on the girls. They warned me earlier I might have to go in.”
Braden nodded, moving his focus to Boston as they began questioning each other again. My heart was in my throat as I unlocked my phone and stared down at the text.
Dr. Patron: I’m sorry I’m late. Something came up. We’ll have to reschedule our date.
Blinking through the news, unexplained relief set in. I had been so torn. Now that our meeting was off, my way out made itself known. I’d find other ways to investigate him. Davis Knight wasn’t it. He was mine.
Me: It’s okay, really. This, I paused, glancing back over to the guys, is for the best. Thank you for the offer, though. I’m afraid I’m going to have to pass.
I shoved my phone in my purse, throwing them a sympathetic smile as I headed back to the living room. Before I could get there, another alert sounded. And another. Three more.
“Jesus, Anna. Who’s that?”
“Work. I’m in a group text. I have to go in. They’re probably just going over more details or something. You both brainstorm. Maybe you’ll have something figured out by the time I get back.”
“How late will that be?”
Concern registered on Braden’s face as he stepped closer. Guilt appeared, stolen by my killer just as fast.
“There’s a lot we need to cover. I’ll try to make it as fast as possible.”
But I wouldn’t. Nothing would stop me from basking in every blissful second of giving Davis the payback he deserved. For months, I had been planning this very moment, and I’d be damned if anything was going to stand in my way.
“Anna…”
I paused on my way to my room, glancing back over my shoulder at Boston. A strangled concern engulfed my name, somehow threatening the Annalise within. She grew angry at how clearly he could read my motives. Boston knew something wasn’t right.
“Maybe Braden and I should drop you off. I can’t shake this…feeling. Maybe the man who has Lucy is still out there. Maybe…” He stood, staring pleadingly to Braden, as if my detective would step in and help in his sudden cause. “This isn’t right,” Boston growled. “I don’t know what it is, dammit. Something is just wrong.”
A succession of two more dings echoed through the silence, and Boston’s head tilted back as his lids closed.
“Maybe it would be safer,” Braden said quietly.
“You’re kidding me. You have the man in custody. He’s behind bars. I’m perfectly safe. Besides, you both look like shit. Sleep. I’ll be home later.”
I didn’t give either time to respond. Heading in my room, I quickly shut the door behind me. For seconds, I waited just inside for Braden to slip through, but the talking continued, and so did I. Right to the closet where my bag was waiting. Quickly, I changed into a pair of slacks and a high collard blouse. When I put my heels on, my adrenaline increased. Was tonight really the night I’d finally get my revenge? It was no secret Davis ran the path by the river every night. After all, it’s how he became involved with the police during No One’s investigation. Stumbling upon the body was no accident. He knew…and even then, before I was taken, he did nothing to stop the string of brutal murders that rocked our city.
Swinging the satchel across my chest, I ignored what I knew was inside. Clothes, my special running shoes, those stayed in the trunk. This bag…well, this one held two things very dear to me: a knife engraved with two special words, and a six-by-five-by-four-inch box.
Talking continued as I opened the barrier and walked back into the living room. Both men glanced over at me, but Braden had been nodding with a serious expression on his face.
“All set?”
“All set,” I repeated.
“You sure you don’t want us to drop you off? I’ll be awake for a while. I can pick you up, or Braden and I can if he’s still up when you’re finished.”
“I’m fine. You both appear in the middle of some great revelation. Keep going. Maybe you’ll discover something.”
I headed over, grabbing my purse from the counter. Braden was at my side before I slid it over the satchel and turned around.
“Be careful. Try to go straight there and back. Until we have hard evidence, we can’t bank on anything.”
“I’ll be safe.”
Braden’s lips met mine. The slight brush ended quickly as I stepped back and grabbed my keys. Pain? His features pulled in as I turned and headed for the door. I couldn’t let my feelings for the man I loved interfere with what needed to be done. And they might if I thought too hard over what he’d think of me if he knew what I was about to do. Secrets were only as strong as you were. There was no room for me to second-guess myself. Davis had to die for what he allowed to happen to me—to my son.
Darkness met me, and a cool chill held heavily in the air, feeding the ice inside my veins. It promised a memorable marriage with murder. Clicking from my heels echoed. Click. Click. My heart beat. Thump. Thump. Time slipped with every fateful step I took closer to car. The sounds were music to ears. Annalise came through, growing inside me as I lowered into my car. When the engine came to life, so did she.
Fumbling through my purse, I took out the red lipstick, letting the color feed her need even more. The ignition glow sent a blue hue covering the lower part of my jaw. For seconds, I stared at the dim reflection gazing back. Hard brown eyes hid behind narrowed lids—lust-filled lids—and my full lips were more pursed than usual. God, I couldn’t hide from the cravings anymore. I needed to act on them like I needed to breathe. There wasn’t one without the other, and I would be a fool to try to convince myself otherwise.
Ragged breaths forced their way free while I put the car in reverse and left the driveaway. It wasn’t until I got on the main road and headed to the park that I took out my phone, trying to ground myself. The texts didn’t help. My finger scrolled through as I glanced up at the red light and read the confusing words.
Dr. Patron: For the best?
You think you’ll pass?
Anna, what are you saying?
One day.
That’s all I need.
You won’t regret our date, I promise.
I just need time.
Are you ignoring me?
Anna?
Please write back.
You’re upset about something. I can help.
Tell me what’s wrong?
You must be busy.
Write me back when you can.
A honk had me tossing my phone down. There wasn’t a reason to text back. I didn’t owe an explanation to anyone. Most of all, some doctor I didn’t even know. This was personal. It was my business, not his. Besides, what was he going to do, knowing my secret? Dr. Patron wouldn’t go to the cops. He didn’t even have anything to show them. He was the one who had started writing in code, and luckily, it covered both our asses.
Turning at the following light, I made it down half a mile before I parked. Downtown was far enough out of the way, I didn’t have to worry. It was rare there were many runners this late. Me and Davis, the exception. None of it mattered now. Davis was a regular. I had been tracking his moves long enough to know. Long enough to see for myself. Even if Dr. Patron or Boston would have never arrived, our night was fated—planned for weeks.
Beep-Beep.
Beep-Beep.
“What the hell?”
Two more text messages came through before I could so much as reach for my phone. The moment I did, the damn thing started ringing.
Braden.
My lips pressed into each other as I glanced past the street lamp into the darkened area of the path.
“Hello?”
“Anna, I’m sorry to call. I know you’re working.”
“It’s fine. I just pulled in. What is it?”
A pause. “Boston wants to go to Chicago.”
“Chicago? For what?”
“It’s where Dr. Patron lives. He has a place there.”
“That’s quite the drive. He wants to go this late? Couldn’t we check it out tomorrow? I would really like to go too.”
“Well…I kind of want to check it out tonight. Maybe the doctor has more to say.”
It was my turn to be quiet. I pulled the phone back from my ear and hit the button to bring up the main screen. Two new messages. I clicked them, scanning through.
Dr. Patron: I saw you read my messages.
Dr. Patron: Why are you not writing me back?
“Hello? Hello?”
“Sorry. They texted me again.”
“It’s okay. I just wanted you to know we might not be here when you get home. Be careful.”
I smiled for more reasons than I wanted to think about. It was tempting, but too risky with Braden and Boston possibly returning.
“I will. You two be careful too.” My mouth opened wider. “Wait. Does Dr. Patron know? He may be asleep.”
“No. Boston doesn’t want to give him a heads-up.” Braden’s voice lowered. “He won’t say why, but I don’t like any of this. Something is going on between the two of them.”
“It’s probably nothing. Boston is on edge. To him, everyone is worthy of suspicion. This will give him something to do. Just be safe. You haven’t had much sleep.”
“You know me. I’m always safe.”
I laughed. “I guess you are. Bye, Braden.”
“Goodbye, A rúnsearc.”
Hanging up, I swallowed through my fluttering heart and popped the trunk. It didn’t take me long retrieve my bag or climb in the back seat. Three more beeps went off before I could slide on my shoes. It had the anger rising as I crawled into the front and snatched my cell. Heat engulfed me. What should have been a silent moment of focus and preparation was turning into a colliding emotional mess. The love in Braden’s voice wouldn’t leave me, and this doctor…it was too much.
“There,” I said, turning off the ringer.
But it wasn’t enough. Minutes passed as I stared ahead into the darkness. I checked the time repeatedly from the dash, but concentration wouldn’t come. Vibrations cut through the interior. An array of random buzzing that fed my anger. Dr. Patron was not stopping. It was so out of character for the person I thought I knew.